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The Mitchell

Method of
Physiological
Relaxation
- a simple technique
suitable for all

The Mitchell Method of


Physiological Relaxation
The Mitchell Method of physiological relaxation often known as the Simple Method of Relaxationis the name given to a technique of relaxing the
whole, or parts of your body. Once learned and
practised it can be used easily and anywhere to
relax and reduce the muscle tension produced by
stress.
Life is full of events and times which may cause us
to feel stressed.
The fight or flight response is how the body deals
with stressful events; muscle tension is generated
so that we are ready to run or fight.
Fear, frustration, pain, grief, anger or anxiety can
trigger this pattern. Not only our muscles, but also
our glandular and nervous systems get involved.
We can end up feeling quite wound up.

Physical activity is known to reduce the muscle


tension and stress.
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These days we rarely need to fight or take flight,


but do build up muscular stress as a response
to events such as traffic, work, personal issues,
financial problems and health concerns.
Stressful situations can affect anyone, some people
more than others. It can be exhausting and harmful
to our health. In some cases it may even prove to
be life threatening.

The tense person may be easily


recognised with some of the
following:
frowning
tightness / clenching in the jaw and teeth
grinding
raised or hunched shoulders
clenched hands and tightly crossed legs
drawn in and closed posture
a shallow or held breathing pattern
To relieve stress we need to find the right level
of muscle tension; enough for an active life but
not so much that our muscles are exhausted. It is
important to be able to recognise any exhausting
muscular tension and then learn to be able to relax
those muscles when we need to.

The Mitchell Method is based on


the following principles:
Tightening or contracting muscles results in
movement
Movement causes repositioning of joints and
limbs
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When we are awake, the brain will register the


change in body position through muscle, joint
and skin sensation
The brain is only aware of the movement it
causes. Movements are controlled by the nervous
system; if one group of muscles is instructed to
tighten, the opposite group of muscles for that
action receives an instruction to relax
We can learn to recognise and be aware of the tense
muscles and joints. Instructing or ordering the
opposite muscle groups to tighten will automatically
result in relax messages being received by the
tense muscles and joints. This new position of
ease can be learnt by registering the feeling in the
muscles, joints and skin. Finding the position of ease
of all your joints will result in relaxation.

How to use The Mitchell


Method of Relaxation
Arrange yourself
comfortably where
your body is well
supported.
A darkened room
is not necessary, and it does not
need to be completely quiet.
If possible the room should be
comfortably warm.
Three exact orders are given to each area of your
body, they never vary. They are all positive, easy to
remember and work in any position:
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1. Move away from the position of stress


2. Stop
3. Be aware of and feel the new position
You will find the new position of ease more
pleasurable than the old position of stress and with
practice it will be easier to achieve a greater level
and speed of relaxation.
Memorize only the words in bold type and act on
each instruction (order).
Stop doing the activity.
Register / feel the changes in your body.

Orders to the arms


Shoulders - Pull your shoulders towards your
feet - away from the ears, making the neck
longer.
STOP
Feel that your shoulders are lower down and that
now there is a wider space between them and your
ears.
Elbows - Elbows out and open - keep your arms
supported, then push them slightly away from your
sides, opening out the elbow joints.
STOP
Feel the positions of your arms and elbows, and
the pressure of your arms on their support, through
the sensations of your skin.
Hands - Fingers and thumbs long and
supported - open out your fingers and thumbs,
keeping your wrists resting on their support.
STOP
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Feel your fingers and thumbs fall back onto their


support. Dont let your hands touch each other or
they will register this instead of their own position.
Feel that the hands are still, the pads of the fingers
touching their support. Be aware of your thumbs as
they lie beside the fingers.
Nerves from the hands take up a large part of the
conscious brain where sensation is recognised, use
this to feel ease; concentrate on the pleasure of
feeling your resting hands.

Orders to the legs


Hips - Turn your hips outwards - Feel your
thighs and legs roll outwards.
STOP
Feel that your legs have rolled outwards.
Knees - Move your knees gently until
comfortable.
STOP
Feel the comfort in your knees.
Feet - Push your feet away from your face bend the ankles downwards gently pointing your
toes.
STOP
Feel that your feet are softer at the ankle joints,
because all the lower leg muscles are now relaxed.

Orders to the Body


Press your body into the support - using the
floor, bed or back of chair - not the seat.
STOP
Feel the pressure of your body on the support.
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Orders to the Head


Press your head into the pillow or chair - feel
the movement in your neck as you do this.
STOP
Feel the weight of your head in the hollow you
have made. As your brain registers that the head is
supported, it relaxes all the neck muscles.

Breathing orders
Take a deep breath - feel your tummy swell
out as you breath out then breathe out easily Repeat twice.
The ribs move in and out. Breathe at a natural rate.

Orders to the Face


Jaw - Drag your jaw down - do not open your
mouth, just unclench your teeth inside your mouth
and gently pull your jaw down.
STOP
Feel the space between your upper and lower
teeth, that the skin over your cheeks is smooth with
your lips still gently touching each other.
Tongue - Bring your tongue down and let it lie
in the middle of your mouth - if it is stuck against
the roof of your mouth.
STOP
Feel the tip of your tongue touching your lower
teeth.
Eyes - Close your eyes - if not already closed.
Let your eyelids close down over your eyes, do not
screw them shut.
STOP
Be aware - of the darkness with your eyes at rest.
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Forehead - Smooth the skin over your forehead


from your eyebrows into your hair, continuing
the movement over the top of your head and
down the back of your neck - widen the space
between your eyebrows and hairline, making it
wrinkle free.
STOP
Feel the smoothing of the skin of your forehead
and your hair moving back as the large muscle of
your skull slackens and relaxes.
You have now completed the whole sequence.
This can be repeated in the same order and the
same way again and again. As you practise you
will learn the instructions and what you expect to
feel or be aware of in your body. Work though one
body area at a time and joint by joint.
You will gradually develop a pleasant feeling of
comfort through your body as the tension and
stress ease. This is relaxation. You have been in
complete control of this change.
To return to full activity after doing the Mitchell
Method stretch your limbs in any direction. Try not
to hurry: sit up or stand up slowly.
Practise total relaxation daily until you have
mastered the changes. Once you feel confident, you
can find positions and timings which work for you
and help you to find relaxation when you need it.
Sometimes your mind does not switch off and
it can be helpful to choose a particular, happy
thought to occupy your mind; it might be a place,
a holiday, a colour etc. You can retrain your mind to
be at rest too.
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You may need to teach the Mitchell Method of


simple relaxation to someone else e.g an anxious
child or elderly person who is tense and not able
to help themselves relax. Sit quietly beside or in
front of the person and gently help them to place
their limbs into the positions of ease. Repeat the
orders again and again in a soothing voice to allow
the process to reach their conscious awareness
without effort on their part.
Try this simple method in the following common
situations of stress:

In pregnancy and during


labour and delivery, modifying
your position as required
(avoid prolonged lying on your
back in the advanced stages
of pregnancy)
At work after a long day,
lengthy meetings or too long
in front of a screen
While driving - try the
shoulder, elbow, body, head
and jaw instructions
While travelling - particularly
long journeys
Relaxation can be practised with success under
many challenging situations. Try it. It may help
you feel less worn out and live a longer, more
comfortable life.

Suggested reading:
simple relaxation - the physiological method for
easing tension by Laura Mitchell.

Suggested websites:
www.patient.co.uk/health/relaxation-exercises
www.nhs.uk

If your ability to follow the advice in this booklet is


affected by any health problem, contact your local
specialist physiotherapist who will be able to help
with appropriate alternatives.
To find your local specialist physiotherapist,
please contact:
POGP Administration,
Fitwise Management Ltd,
Blackburn House,
Redhouse Rd,
Seafield, Bathgate,
West Lothian
EH47 7AQ
T: 01506 811077 E: info@fitwise.co.uk
or visit the POGP website at pogp.csp.org.uk

POGP 2014 for review 2017

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